Recent content by Gamma1214

That's been my issue w/ the northern lights. Reportedly, I've slept through some really spectacular displays but, like bull moose, wolf & caribou sightings, they remain on my bucket list. I've (obviously- see my 1st TR here) tripped without a tent but I'm not sure I'd do it again just to save...

Personally, I buy local (everything) if I can. Nothing against big box / online retailers but whatever you save in coin (usually not much) typically comes right out of your pockets anyway by depressing the local economy. The fact that you can get more complete service after the sale by buying...

Wow SG, You've been coaching me online for 7-8 years now and I had no idea that you did it that way (or that it was even possible). "Different strokes" indeed.

OR... you can return to WPASCR next year, test paddle the Bloodvein again and decide that you like it enough to build one :) much cheaper than buying & you could install a pedestal as Alan did or stay more conventional like me. Might even be able to convince Alan to bring the original & you...

Sizing the blade down on shorter paddles is a great idea and would certainly help the balance as solid wood paddles tend to be blade-heavy if you don't.

Can't hurt. They really don't weight THAT much.

I do it as Alan describes. Typically, the 1st strip is the hardest but it's not critical since it'll be hidden under the gunwales anyway. I use a scrap piece to check my angle before gluing it down.

Best trip so far and highly recommended. I'll be back in 2027 or '28 (but probably not both)

I've always left one thwart off of the strippers that I build because I don't hang my seats and don't feel that I need the extra support. If you've been using the boat like this for 10 years, it seems obvious that you don't need the additional support either. Besides, The picture looks like...

Just a tarp works fine if the season is right & bugs aren't an issue. Throw a water filter and a small 1st aid kit into your gear list and you probably have anything that you'd NEED to have but I'd be taking my inReach too. I'm certainly no ultralight guy but I don't like unnecessary weight...

Welcome. Lots of information in the "Tripping" section, both in the "Trip Reports" and "Destinations" tabs. Everyone here is typically helpful too so ask whatever you wish & be sure to share where you go (I'm not likely to point my windshield NE anytime soon so I'll be tripping vicariously)

Those are some pretty big trees. I'd still want to know where it goes when it disappears before I camped on it. Bermuda triangle's been pretty quiet lately but I'd hate to find out that it just relocated beyond 50° N latitude.

Incidentally, I found out, today, that outfitters cannot (probably) reserve blocks of tickets. VIA rail tickets are non-transferable so the outfitter would have to have the client's name before booking. Of course, there are ways around that... I've reserved a ticket for May 31st to take me...

I pretty much do it like Alan states above. I'll land however I can, grab one end (lifting it out of the water) and pull it onto shore. I don't (usually) beat the crap out of the boat intentionally but I have been known to drag it through a portage that's particularly long or swampy. The port...

No suggestions about lifting the packs but... Could be. Mine aren't rentals (but they don't cost thousands of dollars either) and I beach 'em regardless of conditions (I prefer sand but it ain't a deal-breaker). I think it would take a liquid lava shoreline to wet foot in waist deep water...